Qatar Airways A380 First Class Review BKK to Doha
I am trying something a little different with this review. I took this Qatar flight from Bangkok to DOH last year. I usually write reviews with lots of details (maybe too many details) but while clearing some space on my phone, I came across the photos from this flight and thought I’d simply add a few words of insight to go along with them.
I was on a Business Class ticket (booked thru American Airlines) from BKK to LAX through DOH & JFK and received an upgrade to First Class as I was boarding the aircraft in Bangkok. It was a nice and unexpected surprise. I am Oneworld Emerald and was traveling alone and am sure that is the reason for the upgrade.
Qatar only offers First Class on the A380 and a few B777-300's they are leasing from Cathay Pacific. The First Class cabin consists of just two rows in the forward cabin on the upper deck of the A380, arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. While the seats are luxurious, the cabin does not offer the same level of privacy as the enclosed First Class Suites found on Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, and Emirates. In fact, the window/aisle seats are positioned quite close to the adjacent center seats, which limits the sense of personal privacy.
Boarding started an hour before the departure time. Upon boarding, I was greeted by a smiling flight attendant who showed me to my seat. The Purser then came by to introduce themselves and go over the flight information and what to expect from the service. A third flight attendant brought the menu and wine list, while a fourth stopped by with pajamas and an Amenity Kit featuring Diptyque products. Further, I was offered a Pre-Departure Beverage (PDB) of my choice. I believe Krug Champagne was served, although I can’t find the drink menu from this flight to confirm. I opted for Orange Juice, which was extremely good—freshly squeezed! :) The beverage was accompanied by a small ramekin of olives and cheese, along with a refreshing towelette packet. Finally, shortly before departure, Arabic Coffee and Figs were served, which was a nice touch before takeoff.
You wouldn’t know from looking at how simple the menu appeared, but the meal service was actually quite extensive. It started with a small bowl of Thai Coconut Cream Soup, followed by a good-sized ramekin of Premium Nuts. The flight attendants then set the table, complete with a flickering candle to set the mood, along with Artisan Bread and an Amuse-Bouche (I believe it was Scallops). A choice of appetizers, including Arabic Mezze and Caviar, preceded the main course. For the main course, I opted for the Beef Short Ribs, which were very good. Even better was the Warm Chocolate Cake with Ice Cream for dessert. The entire meal service took about an hour and a half, and a nice hot towel was provided once the meal service was completed. The flight time was seven hours, and I slept for a few hours after dinner. However, during the remainder of the flight, I never saw the flight attendants, nor was I asked if I wanted to try any of the lighter options that were available to order at any time. In addition, there was a selection of salty and sweet snacks available, although I never had the opportunity to try them either. That said, I wasn't hungry, and I'm sure that if I had asked, the flight attendants would have been happy to provide whatever I wanted.
The seat was very comfortable, with a massive amount of legroom and generous width (approximately 90" of pitch and 23" width). While there is no privacy door on the aisle side, dividers between the middle seats provide complete privacy. The divider can also be lowered when traveling with a companion. Surprisingly, there isn't much storage space at the seat, and there are no overhead bins in this forward cabin. However, bags can be placed in a forward closet.
The TV monitor is very large (around 24") and has an excellent picture. The screen is positioned quite far from the seat and can only be controlled using the handset beside the seat. I was somewhat frustrated that the remote itself becomes the interface for selecting programming as I have a hard enough time with touchscreen IFE. The in-flight entertainment (IFE) offers the typical selection of movies and TV series, although some content is censored. There is also a nice moving map and cameras providing views both down toward the ground and forward from the aircraft. The seat converts into a fully flat, 180-degree bed. A flight attendant offered to make the bed for me, which was a nice touch. The bedding was high quality, highlighted by a particularly luxurious pillow.
Qatar has introduced ultra-high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi on most of its aircraft, and it is available free of charge to all passengers. However, the A380 has yet to be equipped with Starlink and still uses the slower satellite Wi-Fi system. One hour of free messaging is available regardless of the cabin. Otherwise, there are three paid plans, priced at $5, $10, and $20 for the Ultimate plan, which includes 200 MB of data. About an hour after takeoff, a flight attendant came by with a Wi-Fi access code. It was for the Ultimate plan. Unfortunately, I tried to log on while we were flying over India, where there is no coverage, so I was only able to get online for a few minutes. The speed wasn't particularly good, but I was able to send a few emails.
Aside from the passenger sitting across the aisle from me, who was particularly needy and dominated much of the flight attendant's attention, everything was as expected from Qatar. I have flown Qatar several times in Business Class and have always been impressed with their service and catering. But First Class takes things to another level.
There are plenty of thoughtful touches, from the noise-canceling headphones to details like the small lamp next to the TV monitor. However, as strange as it may sound, what impressed me most were the two lavatories dedicated to the First Class cabin, located near the stairs. Both lavatories were exceptionally spacious and equipped with virtually every toiletry one could need. They were extremely clean, well-stocked, and impeccably organized. The toilet itself is cleverly concealed beneath a bench, making the space feel even more open. Qatar's First Class may not be on the same level as Etihad, Emirates, or Singapore's Suites, but I can't imagine that their First Class lavatories are any nicer than these (even those on the UAE carriers that offer showers).
Another benefit of flying First Class on Qatar is access to their Al Safwa First Class Lounge in Doha. I’d love to tell you about it, but because I was traveling on a Business Class fare and had been upgraded to First Class, I wasn’t eligible for access. While it was disappointing to miss out, I suppose that helps preserve the exclusivity of the lounge.
Instead, I made my way to the expansive Al Mourjan Business Lounge. Business Class on Qatar is always a treat, but having the opportunity to fly First Class was a wonderful surprise and an experience I’m very glad I got to enjoy.
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